Conventional hardness testing of materials, particularly metals, alloys, and to some extent, ceramics, is one of the most direct and accurate means of measuring mechanical properties for product quality control.
 
When a precise hardness measurement is required for small areas, as in the case of sealing surfaces, or grains revealed in polished and etched metallographic sections, then microhardness testing is warranted. Using a small diamond indenter and a load as low as 100g, this test can provide crucial information not accessible by conventional Rockwell, Brinell, or Vickers hardness testers.
​
While tests like Rockwell B, Rockwell C, or Brinell, use loads of 60kgf and 100kgf, microhardness testing uses low loads of 100g and 200g, enabling the measurement of areas as small as individual grains of metal alloys. MTA's microhardness tester utilizes either a small Vickers diamond indenter or Brinell ball, and normally measures in VPN (Vickers Pyramid Numeral), as alloys with a wide range of hardnesses can be tested.